The crore-rupee onslaught (Part II)

We take a look at few more cars launched in India that attract a price tag of more than a crore rupees

By : Rohit (Rash) Paradkar
on : 08:18 pm, May 25, 2011

Last week we took a look at some of the new cars launched in India this year that attract a price tag of more than a crore rupees. While our last week’s selection included the kind of cars that your rich, bald father would love to buy for driving to office or a casual weekend getaway, our selection this week looks at the more hardcore side of the crore rupee onslaught. These are the kind of cars that can kill an old man with their sheer exhaust note, but with the kind of price tag they attract, you’ll need to sell your kidneys to get any one of these at a really young age. Unless of course, your rich, bald dad loves to splurge money on you…

Browse through the next set of pages to understand what we mean…

Maserati Gran Turismo S

Call it the poor man’s Ferrari or an automotive form of Italian art. Either way, Maserati is one of the best entry-level performance / sports cars that your crorepati-baap can buy for you. The boffins at Bologna have managed to merge a powerful 4.7-litre engine with an Italian piece of art which propels from naught to 100 kmph in 4.7 seconds. The package is tastefully called Maserati Gran Turismo S.

‘Quattroporte’ in Italian means ‘four doors’ - so while that is quite a simple name for a four-door grand tourer, is does sound sensual and powerful. The same can be said about its design too, which with minor tweaks, has managed to stand the test of time for over six years now and still manages to turn heads as if it were a torque wrench. The Quattroporte continues to run strong with a 4.7-litre petrol engine from the Gran Turismo S that puts out a whooping 430 PS of power and 490 Nm of torque. The result is a sedan that manages to sprint from naught to 100 kmph in 5.4 seconds. If you can point out a better car that manages to perform equally well and look equally handsome while maintaining its corporate attire, do let us know!

There is a Swedish carmaker that has managed to make a car that comes very very close to a Bugatti Veyron in terms of performance, without the need of bulbous bodywork and large airdams. Instead, the Agera presents itself as an agile, low slung sports car that can intimidate the best of drivers. After all, 910 PS of power and over 1,000 Nm of torque available between 2680 to 6100 rpm requires really big you-know-what to tame. I don’t know how one will manage to de-clutch this beast on Indian roads, but if you want to give it a try, go ahead - it is available for lesser money than a Bugatti Veyron...

How many crores for the base trim (in Rs): 10

Top Speed (in kmph): 394

Kitna Deti Hai? (Fuel Economy in kmpl): 7 (because you can’t really get to that top speed easily, you know)

It is the most expensive car in India! If that is not enough information for you, then know this – the Aston Martin One77 is propelled by a glutton, 7.3-litre V12 engine that puts out over 700 PS of power. Aston Martin is making only 77 examples of these and from the last reports we heard, they were only five short to making the ultimate one. The One77 manages to sprint from 0 to 100 kmph in 3.5 seconds and manages a top whack of 320 kmph. The only place where you could test one before buying, are a few video games. It is so exclusive that even James Bond hasn’t driven one yet!

Aston Martin’s take on a two-door, four-seater, grand tourer might not look too different from the rest of the Aston Martins on sale. But this is probably the only one that will be able to take on the fabled Indian broken roads and speed humps without leaving behind fragments of the bodywork and the under-body protectors. The Rapide packs in a 6.0 V12 to add an orgasmic soundtrack to the package and puts out 477 PS to ensure a blistering performance. 0-100 kmph sprint comes in 5.3 seconds and can continue accelerating to a top speed of 303 kmph.

Does this brand need any introduction? From bedroom walls to your best dreams, Ferrari has had its presence everywhere – except India. But now that they are here, it is time to sit up and take notice. Close to the bottom end of their price range sits the highly desirable 458 Italia. One of the cruellest looking Ferraris ever, the 458 Italia packs a 4.5-litre V8 that produces 570 PS of power and 540 Nm of torque. If you have been saving up for a Ferrari, it is now time to put down that money. Scarlet red is what one should buy a Ferrari in, but for the 458 Italia, the Giallo Modena Yellow is what we prefer!

The best Ferrari your money can buy right now in India is the 599 GTB Fiorano. The car has one of the best designs Ferrari has ever crafted and the 6.0-litre V12 has been one of the most powerful production mills to be produced in Maranello. With 620 PS of power and 608 Nm of torque, it’s fast no doubt, but what makes the difference is the fabled ‘Italian emotion’ and that is what is worth all you money.

A Lamborghini V12 supercar has always been the epitome of supercar performance. So when a new one comes out, it better make a lasting first impression. The Aventador seems to have achieved that already. The supercar was sold out for 2011 within weeks of its launch at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show. But Lamborghini have been wise and considerate and have secretly kept away a few for the Indian customers. With two dealerships in India ready to unleash the beast, the Aventador is sure to create some earthquakes in the country with its V12 roar. If you haven’t been one of the first to order one, put that money together soon for the waiting list for this raging bull could stretch into years looking at the kind of demand this supercar attracts.